Charlie Rangel to keep gavel - for now

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Several House Democrats have now joined Republicans in calling for Rangel to lose his gavel.
AP Photo

Republican Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that, by leaving Rangel in charge at Ways and Means, Pelosi is breaking the promise she made to “drain the swamp” in Washington.

“This is only the tip of the iceberg,” Cantor said of Rangel. “I called for his stepping down before even this finding, and now I do think it’s time.”

So far, only a handful of House Democrats have publicly called on Rangel to step aside, including Reps. Gene Taylor of Mississippi, Paul Hodes of New Hampshire, Mike Quigley of Illinois and Bobby Bright of Alabama. He still retains the support of his senior colleagues, particularly in the Congressional Black Caucus, though that backing has been eroded by the ethics committee’s rebuke.

Rangel “commands the respect that comes from treating people with respect,” said a senior Democratic lawmaker. “If it was someone who was seen as a little bit nasty or not the nicest of guys, it might be a little different.”

When asked whether Rangel should give up his Ways and Means gavel, Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said that wasn’t necessary.

“It would be disproportionate” based on what the ethics committee found, said Van Hollen. “The ethics committee needs to move expeditiously to review and render judgment on the remaining issues before them.”

Van Hollen, however, deflected questions about whether Rangel’s ethical problems would become a problem for Democratic candidates and incumbents this fall, repeating the mantra that Rangel “did not knowingly violate any rule, he is repaying the cost of the trip, and the other issues remain under review.”

Ethics experts cautioned against reading too much into the committee’s ruling on the trips —saying it may or may not be a sign of how members are leaning on the other Rangel-related issues before them.

Rob Walker, former chief counsel and staff director for both the House and the Senate ethics committees, said that Thursday’s ruling on Rangel “may be a kind of middle ground” for panel members who differed on his level of culpability.

Walker said he reviewed the ethics committee’s report on the Carib News Foundation, the group that sponsored the Caribbean trips, searching for signals on how the panel would rule on the other allegations against Rangel, but didn’t find them.

“If there are any tea leaves in this report ... I don’t see those tea leaves or I can’t read those tea leaves,” Walker said.

A crook and a fraud gets Democratic leadership support. What would we expect from this porky, special interest ruled body that has brought respect to new lows. The only problem is that these people don't care as long as they have the powah,

When the Republicans had a leader who made an unfortunate comment at a dinner for a fellow Senator - they got rid of him. When the Democrats have a leader who cheated on his taxes and lied about, took bribes from corporate interests in the form of free trips - what have they done? Nothing. They pay no attentin to it and hope the public will forget about it.

In fact, when one of their members got caught by the FBI with $50,000 in bribe money stuffed in his freezer, he not only stayed in office, his fellow Democratic legislators gave him a standing ovation in Congress for getting away with it.

And there is one of the major differences between the parties. One of them has convictions - the other one needs to have convictions - and sentences to go along with them.

Pelosi's comment at her ascension ceremony years ago was "this will be the most ethical Congress ever known", or something to that ridiculous effect. Pelosi has led a bunch of thieves and scoundrels and has no intention of removng Rangel. He, in all likelyhood has some poop on her and she can't afford for it to get out now. Pelosi and the Dems have an entitlement mentality that is worse than the bunch they represent. Is there no one with the guts in D.C. to tell her no. She is shoplifting all of us into bankruptcy.

Hey Tom Delay !!!! Is this the same Nancy Pelosi (can't afford to lose another Lib in the House Pelosi ) that spearheaded your downfall ? (For ethics violations?? ) Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Hypocrites in all their GLORY

Hey Tom Delay !!!! Is this the same Nancy Pelosi (can't afford to lose another Lib in the House Pelosi ) that spearheaded your downfall ? (For ethics violations?? ) Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Hypocrites in all their GLORY

Hey Tom Delay !!!! Is this the same Nancy Pelosi (can't afford to lose another Lib in the House Pelosi ) that spearheaded your downfall ? (For ethics violations?? ) Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Hypocrites in all their GLORY

Hey Tom Delay !!!! Is this the same Nancy Pelosi (can't afford to lose another Lib in the House Pelosi ) that spearheaded your downfall ? (For ethics violations?? ) Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Hypocrites in all their GLORY

Hey Tom Delay !!!! Is this the same Nancy Pelosi (can't afford to lose another Lib in the House Pelosi ) that spearheaded your downfall ? (For ethics violations?? ) Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Hypocrites in all their GLORY

HERE WE GO AGAIN, IF ITS NOT OUR PRESIDENT ITS ANY OTHER BLACK MAN AROUND. LEGISLATOR CHARLIE RANGEL HAS BEEN A GREAT CONGRESSMAN FOR MANY YEARS AND IF I WAS DAVID PATTERSON, I WOULD RUN FOR REELECTION FOR THE PEOPLE WANT HIM TO. NANCY PELOSI IS A VERY SMART AND BRAVE SPEAKER AND CAN'T BE SWAYED INTO THE STATUS QUO. LOVE YOU NACY AND PRESIDENT OBAMA WE LOVE YOU. GREAT SUMMIT NOW LETS PASS AND SIGN THE HEALTH LEGISLATION NOW NOW NOW.

Looks like Charlie will have a lot more free time to enjoy in his vacation home, careening around in his vintage Mercedes...

From the Daily Caller today:

NY Rep. Charlie Rangel--chairman of the Ways and Means committee, Congressional Black Caucus founder, milker of the political system--is one ethics committee hearing away from losing the support of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who probably can't afford to be seen with the likes of Rangel during campaign season. "The fact is, is that what Mr. Rangel has been admonished for is not good," Pelosi said Sunday on 'This Week,' as if to suggest that some hard and fast rules are less breakable than others. The New York Daily News called Pelosi's defense of Rangel "tepid at best," and the Hill theorized that Pelosi's distancing language is a sign that Democrats are willing to sacrifice Rangel on the Tea Party/GOP altar, in order to reward representatives who aren't blatantly violating House ethics rules.